Electron discharge device



May 22, 1951 P.'HAAS ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 22, 1945 R m Na w M a ma 9 5 w 9 a a H 4 4 5 5 a e "A w E. E {a 8 w i 9 a a; z 4 //C J a A A wvwhiii 7 u: 2 8 7 7 E {III a w. 4 1%. 5

May 22, 1951 P. HAAS 2,553,580

ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Paul Haas Attorney Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED TATJES PATENT -OFFI-CE ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE *Paul Haas, New Hyde Park, -N. Y., assignor to SylvaniaElectric Products Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts OriginaLappIicationAugust 22, 1945, Serial No.

612,029. ijDivided and this. application September 11 1948, Serial No. 48,905

90laims. (crease-27,5)

This application is -'a division 'of' my prior application Serial No. 612,029 filed August 22, 1945.

This invention relates to electron discharge :devices of the type having substantially planar parallel electrodes.

An object of thefiin-vention is to provide improved sealing of a plurality of metallic parts suchas electrodesin the form of discs or rings to a glass envelope-portion to provide a-composite glass-metal body structure with the metallic parts spaced in a predetermined mannerand to which other metal parts may be attached subsequent to such sealing.

-into the envelopewiththeir axes coincident with and at right angles tl-1ere'to,"-their outer peripher- 'ies being external of the envelope while adjacent :ends of the tubing sections-abut and are sealed to the'conforming annular portionso'f'the metal.

"In electron discharge tubes of the character described and disclosed in my co pending application S. N. 563,348, filed November 14, 11944, issued on Maroh*1-4,1f95(l,as Patent No. $500,355, it is often desired fto have two electrodes closely "and precisely spaced along the axis of the tube, and to havetheseelectrodes of different shapes.

"The conventional method of assembly has been to make the seals one at a time. Firstytwo sections of tubing are held "with adjacent ends against the opposite sides of the flat annular portion of an electrode Which' latter is then heated through :the medium of a surrounding heating element until the glass melts andthe seal is made. Then =a=-second electrode anda third section of tubing aresealedto one of "the first two sections of envelope, andso on.

Among the difliculties encountered in this method, particularly when the electrodes are closely spaced, 'is'the problem of relative adjustment of the work and the heating means so that when the second seal'is made-the other electrode will not absorb enoug'h'heat todestroy the first seal. Even when the first seal withstands the reheating it is subject to expansion and distor- 'tion,"thus limiting the precision of alignment and spacing of the electrodes. 'Itis therefore diflicult to obtain the same characteristics in succesfheat absorption characteristics.

"parts absorbing heat at the same rate.

. 2 sive tubes manufactured by this process. Heretofore it has not been possible to make both seals simultaneously because the electrodesbeing inherently of different'sizes and shapes, aabsorb the heat at different rates. Thus the electrodes do not reach the sealing temperature at the same time, and'thequick heating electrode cannot be held at the sealing temperature while the other electrode comes up to temperature.

As hereinabove stated a principal object of the invention is to provide a tube structure wherein disc or ring lead-in connections, held precisely in position, may be simultaneously sealed intothe envelope, thus avoiding the disadvantages resulting from reheating the completed seals as each successive seal is 'made. Thereafter,the

electrode structures per se areatt-ac'hed.

The invention uses a method in which each electrode is composed ofone or more pieces; the parts, one from each electrode, which are 'to' be sealed to the glass are substantially identical in size and shape or have substantially the same Another advantage of using rings of substantially the same size is that the seals have approximately thesame strain characteristics, thus assuring anhermetic or vacuum-tight seal "for all the rings. These similar parts of the electrodes are held, together with theglass tubing, in precise alignment and spacing and the seals made simultaneously, the After the seals are completed the remaining parts or the electrodes are'fastened by suitable means to the parts which have alreadybeen sealed'to the glass.

. The sealed portion of each electrode need consist only of the opposing annular surfacesre- 'quired for scaling to the adjacent sections of the "tubular envelope and whatever additional area is required for attachment thereto of its respective other electrode part orparts. The more complicated parts of the electrodes are made separately. This independence of construction of the electronically active parts of the electrode and the disc or ring member'srequired "for sealing has other advantages in addition to allowing more than one seal to be made at the same time.

The manufacture of parts is simplifiedbecause it is unnecessary to provide an annular sealing surface in the same piece with the more complicated electronically active parts. It is thus also possible to use more complex electrode structures than can be used with electrodes made as units from asingle piece of metal.

The cleaning of "the electrodes after sealing is simplified. Since the sealed parts of the electrodes may be small and simply shaped, they do not become so heavily oxidized during sealing, and their surfaces are more readily accessible for the application of cleaning fluids.

Another object of the invention is the incorporation of a simple way of providing electrical coupling between the electrodes or between resonant cavities which may be associated with the electrodes. The rivets or other devices used to fasten the active parts of one electrode to the sealed disc may be allowed to extend axially down the envelope into proximity. with another electrode or through an opening in another electrode into the adjoining cavity.

In the fabrication of the discs or rings, to be sealed to the glass tubing in forming the tube of the present invention, a series of apertures are provided therethrough whereby such parts cooperate with an assembly fixture as means for .holding themselves in true concentricity, and

with stop members to limit their movement toward each other to a predetermined and exact parallel spacing as the glass tubing under end pressure becomes shorter during the sealing operation.

My invention will be more fully set forth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section ofa tube construction according to the present invention showing the cup-shaped anode and the grid frame riveted to their respective. discs. 7

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of two similar leadin discs used in that embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 10.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views in plan and elevation, respectively, of the cup-shaped anode used in the present invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 areviews similar to Figs. 2 and 3 of the grid frame; 5

Fig. 7 is'a fragmentary view of a modified embodiment of the present invention during the course of construction with the anode and grid discs shown as formed of thinner metal, the anode disc having a concentricannular, reinforcing depression while the grid disc has both a depressed central portion and a downwardly turned annular flange.

Figs. 8 and 9 are top plan views of the two disc members seen in Fig. 7.

And, Figs. 10 and 11 are views in elevation of the completed tubes illustrated in the two embodiments of the invention, part of Fig. 10 being shown in longitudinal central section. In these views an extra anode ring is shown as added which operation is done after sealing.

In the drawings similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

At l, 2, and 3, of Fig. 1 are shown the upper, lower and intermediate sections, respectively, of glass tubing which when the electronic tube is completed form the envelope, in this instance such sections being of different lengths.

Spaced apart by the intermediate length of tubing 3 and in abutment with opposing ends of the sections I and 2 are two similar discs 5 and 6 through each of which surrounding a central opening I are a plurality of holes 8 of one diameter and a like number of holes 9 of a smaller diameter, all arranged with their axes in a circle terior portion while there remains between the central opening and the wall of the tubing an interior portion in which the concentric circle of holes is located and providing a supporting area to which other parts, as will be explained, are attached. The discs 5 and 6, in this modification, are shown as flat although for the purposes of the invention the only flats need be the annular surface portions engaged by the abutting ends of the glass tubing in order that seats be provided "for the tubing and'whereby the discs are spaced in true parallel relation.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the anode is made of three parts, viz., the disc or ring 5 (Fig. 2) sealed to the glass tubing sections l and 3, a cup-shaped anode proper 48 (Fig. 3) depending through the central opening 1 and formed with an outwardly turned annular flange 49 having three rivet holes 5|] which register with the holes 9 and a like number of outwardly opening radial slots 5| which register with the larger openings 8, and, also, an outer anode ring 52 which is soldered to the disc 5 after sealing.

The grid is made of two parts, viz., the grid disc 6 sealed to the glass tubing sections 2 and 3 and the grid frame the latter comprising an annular ring 53 (Figs. 5 and 6) preferably of like outer diameter as the anode flange 49 with its center opening of like diameter as and registering with the hold I in the disc 6. This grid frame or ring carries the grid wires '54 and has a like number of rivet holes 55 and outwardly opening radial slots 55 as there are similar holes 58 and slots 5| in the anode flange 49, the holes 55 registering with the rivet holes 9 and slots 56 registering with the holes 8 in the disc 6.

The fastening devices employed in assembling the parts of the two electrodes are, in this instance, shown as short rivets 5l-for the one and long rivets 58 for the other, the heads of the short and long rivets being provided with reduced pilot extensions 59 and 59 respectively, which are coaxial with the shank portions. The short rivets 51 are used for the grid parts while the longer rivets 58 are used for the anode, the extensions 53 of the long rivets extending into proximity with the grid or, as shown, through the holes 8 in the grid disc, thus providing electrical coupling between the electrodes or between resonant cavities which may be associated with the electrodes.

The holes 8 and 9 formed in the disc members 5 and 6 in the fabrication of these parts permit these members to cooperate with a riveting device in centering and properly aligning the work for the riveting operation.

Preferably, the first operation is to attach the grid frame 53. To this end a short rivet is secured through the aligned holes 9 and 55 in the disc 6 and grid frame 53.

The flange 49 of the anode is riveted to the anode disc 5 in the same way except that the long rivets 58 are used. In the final operation after the grid and plate electrodes are secured in place, the header ll and exhaust tube I2 (Fig. 10) are sealed in the usual manner and, with the glass sections I, 2, and 3, give the complete envelope 4. It may here be stated that sealed into the header H, previously to its sealing with the tubular section 2, is the cathode sheath l3 which;housesthe'heater catho'de assembly 14,.the

latter including the cathode grid The apparatusfor accurately performing. th

sealingv operation and for securing: the electrodes in place on the discs 5 and 6- arershownin detail grid disc G is formed with a central depression 11, in which the holes 1, 8, and: Slarelocated; and a depending annular flange 13 exteriorly of the tubing, the: amount of metal inthe'parts of the two electrodes exteriorly of the glass tubing being, substantially the same so. as to allow substantially equal heating. Also; in this modification anouter ring 52 is soldered to the anode disc 5 While I have shown and described, rivets as the means for rigidly securing the parts of the electrodes together it will of. course be understood that other suitablefastening devices, as screws,,may be used.

Although I have shown and described particular. embodiments of my invention; I do not desire to be limited to the embodiments described, and I intend in the appended'claims tocover all modifications which do not depart from thespirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

, 1. An electron discharge device including an envelope having asubstantially cylindrical glass portion, a plurality of similar metal rings having portions passing through and hermetically sealed to the glass, said seals having substantially identical strain characteristics, said rings having substantially flat portions passing through said glass envelope, and a plurality of openings for facilitating the assembly of the device and distinctive electrodes secured over the central aperture of each of said rings.

2. An electron discharge device including an envelope having a substantially cylindrical glass portion, a plurality of similar metal rings having portions passing through and hermetically sealed to the glass, said seals having substantially identical strain characteristics, said rings having substantially flat portions passing through said glass envelope, and a plurality of openings for facilitating the assembly of the device, at least one of said openings in one of said rings being in substantially axial alignment with an opening in another of said rings and distinctive electrodes secured over the central aperture of each of said rings.

3. An electron discharge device having an envelope with a glass portion, similar metallic members passing through said glass portion and being hermetically sealed thereto, said members having portions within said envelope and distinctive electronically responsive electrodes secured to each of said members, .said metallic members having openings in substantially axial alignment for facilitating the attachment of said electrodes to said members.

4. An electron discharge device having an envelope with a glass portion, similar metallic members passing through said glass portion and being hermetically sealed thereto, said members having portions within said envelope and distinctive electronically responsive electrodes secured to each of said members, said metallic members having openingsin substantially axial alignment for facilitating the attachment of said electrodes to said members, some of said openings in each of said metallic members being of different diameters, and openings of one diameter in one of said members being substantially in alignment with openings of a. different diameter in another of said metallic members.

5. An electron discharge device including a composite glass-metal envelope and electrode body structure, an anode disc and a grid disc mounted coaxially with and as separating means between three sectionsof glass tubing, said discs being of greater diameter than said tubing to provide exterior surface areas and having centralopenings concentric with the axis of said body structure, the portion of each of said discs within said tubing having an annular series of apertures concentric with its central opening, certain of these apertures being of one diameter with alternate ones of another diameter, flat. annular portions on said discs for receiving the abutting ends of said tubing, the glass being sealed vacuum-tight to said annular disc portions, an anode comprising an annular flange resting upon the inner peripheral margin of said anode disc and a cup-shaped portion depending through the said central opening therein, a grid extending over said central opening of said grid disc and including a frame, said anode flange and said grid frame having apertures registering with the said apertures in their respective disc members, fastening devices extending through the smaller openings in said anode disc and anode flange attaching these parts together, additional fastening devices extendingthrough the smaller apertures in said grid frame and grid disc attaching these parts together, and extensions on the fastening devices of one electrode extending parallel with the axis of said body structure and entering aligned larger openings of the other electrode.

6. An electron discharge device includingan envelope, a plurality of metallic members within said envelope, means for attaching an electronically responsive member to one of said metallic members, said attaching means having a conductive portion within said envelope and extending to the vicinity of the other metallic member for capacitatively coupling the members.

7. An electronic tube of the planar triode type having a composite glass-metal envelope and electrode body structure comprising an anode disc and a grid disc arranged coaxially with and as separating means between an upper, an intermediate and a lower section of glass tubing, said discs being of greater diameter than said tubing to provide exterior surface areas and having central openings concentric with the axis of the tube, annular portions on said discs conformed to the abutting ends of said tubing, the glass being sealed vacuum-tight to said annular disc portions, an anode formed of an annular flange resting upon the inner peripheral margin of said anode disc and a cup-shaped portion depending through the said central opening therein, fastening devices for rigidly securing said flange to said anode disc, a grid including a frame engaging the underface of said disc and covering its central opening, fastening devices for rigidly securing the grid frame to said grid disc, the said attached parts being fabricated to receive said fastening devices and permit such assembly of parts after sealing of said electrode discs and glass tubing to form said body structure, said anode fastening devices including extensions parallel to the axis of the tube and the fabrication of said grid disc including apertures for receiving said extensions, a header sealed to said lower tubing section, and a cathode-heater assembly unit including a cathode disc extending through and sealed to said header, said cathode disc being the third electrode of said triode and said upper tubing section forming the evacuation end of said envelope.

8. An electronic tube of the planar triode type having a composite glass metal envelope and electrode body structure, comprising an anode disc and a grid disc arranged coaxially with and as separating means between an upper, an intermediate and a lower section of glass tubing, said discs being of greater diameter than said tubing to provide exterior surface areas and having central openings concentric with the axis of the tube, the glass being sealed vacuum tight to said discs, an anode secured to said anode disc, a grid secured to said grid disc, said anode and said grid being fabricated to permit assembly thereof to said anode disc and grid disc after sealing of said discs and glass tubing to form said body structure, a header sealed to said lower tubing section, and a cathode heater assembly unit including a cathode tube extending through and sealed to said header, said cathode tube being the third electrode of said triode and said upper tubing section forming the evacuation end of said. envelope.

9. An electronic tube having a composite glass metal envelope and electrode body structure, comprising a number of annular discs arranged coaxially with, and as separating means between interposed sections of glass tubing, said discs being of greater diameter than said tubing to provide exterior surface areas and having central openings concentric with the axis of said tube, the glass being sealed vacuum tight to said discs, an anode electrode secured to one of said discs, a grid electrode secured to another of said discs, a header sealed to an end one of said sections of glass tubing, a cathode heater assembly unit sealed into said header and in operative relationship with said anode and grid electrodes, the other end tubing section forming the evacuation end of said envelope.

PAUL HAAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 2,212,578 Wundt Aug. 27, 1940 2,353,743 McArthur July 18, 1944 2,367,332 Bondley Jan. 16, 1945 2,376,439 Machlett et al May 22, 1945 2,395,043 Goodchild Feb. 19, 1946 2,405,477 Westendorp Aug. 6, 1946 2,407,742 Harries Sept. 17, 1946 2,423,819 Chevigny July 8, 1947 2,446,829 Hergenrother Aug. 10, 1948 2,460,141 McArthur Jan. 25, 1949 2,462,921 Taylor Mar. 1, 1949 2,465,370 Glauber Mar. 29, 1949 2,500,355 Haas Mar. 14, 1950 2,501,882 Trump et al. Mar. 28, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Disk-Seal Tubes, E. D. McArthur-Electronics, February 1945, pp. 98 through 102. 

